MECHANISMS OF PESTICIDE-INDUCED TESTICULAR ATROPHY

这项研究将确定杀菌剂的作用机制 苯菌灵和多菌灵可引起睾丸萎缩。苯菌灵是一种 系统性苯并咪唑类杀菌剂，广泛用于多种 粮食作物和观赏植物。多菌灵，也是苯并咪唑 杀菌剂，是一种代谢物和天然分解产物 苯菌灵。这两种化学物质都是已知的男性生殖 毒药。苯并咪唑暴露可引起局部和全部 睾丸萎缩，导致雄性大鼠不育。然而， 导致不孕不育的机制尚不清楚。初步 研究表明，闭塞的传出小管， 睾丸可能是睾丸发育的主要因素。 萎缩。拟议的实验将确定： A.睾丸和传出神经的急性剂量依赖性改变 暴露于苯菌灵和多菌灵后的小管； B.多菌灵对睾丸的急性影响和 传出小管是独立的； C.多菌灵对大鼠支持细胞形态的影响 睾丸； D.多菌灵是否会破坏脑组织的结构和功能 导管上皮的纤毛细胞和无纤毛细胞； E.如果睾丸损伤是可逆的，取决于 传出小管或曲细精管受损程度；以及 F.睾丸和导管损伤倍数的关系 暴露于低剂量的多菌灵。 这项研究的结果将提供有价值的信息 关于男性不育的机制 苯并咪唑类化合物，这将允许更多 来自世界各地的男性职业风险的知情决定 这些杀菌剂的广泛使用。

This research will determine the mechanisms by which the fungicides benomyl and carbendazim induce testicular atrophy. Benomyl is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide that is used widely on numerous food crops and ornamentals. Carbendazim, also a benzimidazole fungicide, is a metabolite and natural breakdown product of benomyl. Both of these chemicals are known male reproductive toxicants. Benzimidazole exposures induce focal and total testicular atrophy, which cause infertility in male rats. However, the mechanisms leading to infertility remain unknown. Preliminary studies indicate that occlusion of the efferent ductules of the testis may be a major factor in the development of testicular atrophy. The proposed experiments will determine: a. acute dose-dependent changes in the testis and efferent ductules after exposure to benomyl and carbendazim; b. whether carbendazim's acute effects on the testis and efferent ductules are independent; c. the effect of carbendazim on Sertoli cell morphology in the testis; d. whether carbendazim disrupts the structure and function of ciliated and nonciliated cells of the ductal epithelium; e. if the testicular injury is reversible, depending upon the extent of efferent ductule or seminiferous tubule damage; and f. the relationship of testicular and ductal damage multiple exposures to low dosages of carbendazim. The results of this research will provide valuable information regarding the mechanisms of male infertility produced by the benzimidazole class of compounds, which will allow for more informed decisions of occupational risk to males from the wide spread use of these fungicides.